You may think that making a unique, one-of-a-kind diamond engagement ring is out of your price range, but nowadays it’s actually quite easy to design the ring of your dreams without breaking the bank.
Lab-grown diamonds are the current revolution that is single-handedly making larger carat diamonds more accessible to everybody. Made synthetically rather than naturally, lab-grown diamonds are identical to natural diamonds and are significantly less expensive. Unsurprisingly, this has increased the demand for these precious gems tremendously over the last 70 years.
Award-winning specialists in lab-grown diamond engagement rings, Queensmith, share more about the new trend in the diamond market.
What are lab-grown diamonds?
Lab-grown diamonds are synthetically made diamonds. Whilst natural diamonds are made through billions of years compressing in the earth’s mantle, lab-grown diamonds are made in a lab, through a process that heats them up and applies tremendous pressure to them, simulating an environment not unlike the mantle of the earth.
Whilst they aren’t occurring naturally, lab-grown diamonds are 100% real diamonds. They are identical to natural diamonds in nearly every way. They are made of the same materials and have the same qualities, meaning they are indistinguishable from naturally occurring diamonds. The only difference is the way they were made – either through billions of years in the Earth’s mantle, or 1-2 weeks in a lab.
Why are lab-grown diamonds cheaper?
Due to the efficiency of their production, the overheads of lab diamond fabrication are far lower than diamond mining, which requires a huge amount of land and means of excavation. In contrast, a lab diamond can be grown in as little as 2 weeks, without the need for masses of land or large labour forces.
Jewellery experts at Queensmith explain that lab-grown diamonds can be 60-85% cheaper than natural diamonds, meaning a £250,000 diamond could be as little as £37,500. This means you’re a lot less restricted in deciding what sort of diamond you want on your partner’s engagement ring and have the freedom to purchase larger carats, better clarity, and a wide assortment of patterns.
Craftsmanship still matters
Just because lab-grown diamonds have made engagement rings more economically accessible doesn’t mean the desire for a good jeweller has gone away. If anything, the need for skill and finesse in creating a bespoke engagement ring has increased with the abundance of ring options to choose from. It means that couples can have unique, personalised diamonds that require a skilled artisan. So, how do you go about starting that process?
How to design a bespoke engagement ring
Firstly, you want to go to a jeweller you can trust to get the job done correctly. One that you’ve been to before, or has good reviews, or is well-known for its craft and quality. Next, consider the cut of the diamond you want to choose – there are many options. From round diamonds to oval or asscher, each diamond shape looks different depending on the band it’s set in and the finger it’s on. To help you decide, you could conduct research and consider the shape your partner would prefer, or book an appointment with a reputable jeweller like Queensmith to see which one you like best.
After the shape comes the band. The first step in picking a band is determining the type of metal. Yellow gold, platinum, and rose gold all have varying properties and durabilities you may be interested in learning about before you commit to purchasing. Remember, the person you love will be wearing this ring for the rest of your life, so you want it to be a colour you like that matches their skin tone, but it also needs to be crafted to last.
Then there’s the style and setting. From a classic solitaire to a toit et moi or a trilogy ring, there are a few different styles you could go for that give your engagement ring a unique and personalised feel. We’d recommend having a look at all the different styles and settings available to ensure you get one that fits with your band and really speaks to your aesthetic. And if you want to go even more personal, you could even add an engraving on the inside of the band with initials or a message to make it even more special.
A truly personalised ring made affordable
No matter what engagement ring you choose, whether it’s a simple and regal solitaire ring with a round diamond, or an extravagant toit et moi ring with an oval diamond and a square emerald, the important thing is that you chose it. An engagement ring is a deeply personal decision, and we’re lucky enough to have the modern technology that has made diamonds more accessible for everyone. So take advantage of lab diamonds and buy the engagement ring of your partner’s dreams.
